Transcript Highlights:

• Further, in order to prepare for the hopefully an event that never happens, we collaborate.
• Private universities collaborate with local law enforcement.
• At USC, we collaborate very closely with the LAPD, twice a year.
• At USC, we collaborate very closely with the LAPD. Twice a year, we do active shooter drills.
• And do you collaborate with the local law enforcement and other folks that you would need to interact

Summary: The committee held a hearing on active and mass shootings in California, focusing on prevention, response, training, communications, and gaps in preparedness across law enforcement, schools, campuses, fire, EMS, and state agencies. Opening remarks emphasized the frequency and impact of gun violence, the need for faster coordinated response, and the importance of learning from recent tragedies such as the Stockton-area mass shooting described by Sheriff Patrick Withrow. The first panel included representatives from police, sheriff, and campus public safety agencies, who discussed incident command, interoperable communications, next-generation 911, threat assessment, emergency notification systems, and the value of joint drills and cross-agency planning. Witnesses also highlighted differences in training and authority across jurisdictions, especially for private university public safety departments versus public campus police. Campus representatives said they rely heavily on municipal law enforcement for armed response, while also using run-hide-fight protocols, text alerts, surveillance, and threat assessment teams. Members raised concerns about standardized training, after-action reviews, mental health resources, school resource officers, and whether campus safety plans and drills are sufficiently consistent or workable. Sheriff Withrow argued that early intervention and accountability are being weakened by well-intentioned laws, while other witnesses stressed prevention through relationships, diversion, and coordinated support services. The second panel from Cal OES, the Department of Education, POST, and EMSA described statewide systems and standards. Cal OES outlined its Reduce the Risk initiative, gun violence restraining orders, mutual aid, unified command, after-action reporting, and nonprofit security grants. The Department of Education explained California’s statutory school safety framework, annual safety plans, regulated armed assailant drills, and local flexibility, while acknowledging compliance gaps and the need for more mental health support. POST described the new requirement for 16 hours of standardized active shooter training for recruits and ongoing local training options. EMSA explained its role in medical response and terrorism training standards. No votes or formal actions were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• And so it is really important to us to collaborate and recognize where our work overlaps and highlight
• The Office of Equity was mandated to collaborate with the Office of Financial Management and the other
• I think this is one of the first collaborations we have.
• I think this is one of the first collaboration we have. process.
• I think this is one of the first collaboration we have, and it started out very strong.

Summary: The committee held a work session on voting rights in the United States and Washington, beginning with testimony from Marissa Wright of Campaign Legal Center and David Montes of the ACLU of Washington. They described the federal Voting Rights Act’s main protections—preclearance, vote suppression, and vote dilution—and argued that Supreme Court decisions such as Shelby County v. Holder and Brnovich have weakened those tools. They said Washington should consider stronger state-level protections, including a preclearance program and broader safeguards against discriminatory voting practices. Members asked about Washington’s history of discrimination, voter roll purges, noncitizen registration, and remedies under the Washington Voting Rights Act, including ranked-choice voting and district-based systems. The committee then heard from the Office of Equity and several commissions, which described their roles in advising state government and working with communities. They focused on the immigration sub-cabinet created under Executive Order 2509, saying it is intended to improve coordination across agencies, the legislature, the courts, and community organizations on issues such as data privacy, language access, health care, education, and accountability under the Keep Washington Working Act. Members asked about the use of NGOs, accountability for KWW violations, and the sub-cabinet’s goals, and the panel said the effort is meant to help government respond more quickly and collaboratively while centering immigrant, disability, LGBTQ, and other communities. The final panel was from the University of Washington Elections Database Project, which presented data on vote-by-mail ballot challenges, cures, and rejections from 2020 to 2024. They reported that about 1.5% of ballots are signature-challenged in most elections, roughly 60% of challenged ballots are cured, and overall rejection rates are about 1% in general elections and 1.5% in primaries. The researchers said voters of color, younger voters, and some tribal-area voters experience higher rejection rates, and that differences appear tied to signature mismatch, language access, ballot timing, and familiarity with the system. In the last panel, Maria Fernandez and Vicki Frausto of EIA described voter education and civic engagement work in Yakima County and Sunnyside, including concerns about intimidation, language barriers, signature mismatch, and at-large election systems; they said stronger Washington Voting Rights Act protections would help communities elect candidates of choice. No votes were taken during the work session.

Transcript Highlights:

• Now, educator preparation programs should collaborate with PED to conduct a thorough and transparent
• And that really includes a very strong partnership and collaboration with our higher ed institutions
• They worked very closely with the Mississippi Department of Education as a true partner and collaborator
• And again We feel like this is a clear collaboration and partnership with our institutions of higher
• We're really excited that we have This statewide sort of connection and collaboration related to STEM

Transcript Highlights:

• supporting the on-the-ground implementation of the work, and facilitating the multi-sectional collaboration
• As we move into the future, we're trying to take on a more collaborative role, particularly with tribes
• And State Parks staff collaborated with Tribal Resource Advisors from the Santa Ynez-Chume Fire Department
• And I think through projects like this, we're recognizing the need for that greater collaboration.
• We are working with a collaboration of various entities, public and nonprofit, and we are requesting

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Now, Senator, you know, during this time there's been a big focus on bipartisanship and collaboration
• <00:10:51.200> through Be cooperation and collaboration through the rest of session, and I
• And again, I'm optimistic that we can work together and we can have that collaboration here in the Senate
• > and<00:18:02.159> working<00:18:02.679> together<00:18:03.480> what collaboration
• and working together what collaboration and working together what can<00:18:03.919> we<00:18:

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It’s about collaboration. It is about communication.
• Panelists wanted to see arts organizations putting greater emphasis on collaborating with and serving
• That happens really in collaboration with staff rather than just the chair setting the agenda.
• This is another one that it really is a collaboration between the staff and the board.
• So it is a collaboration. Is it a policy then? Well, that was my question.

Keywords: Virginia Commission for the Arts Board Meeting, 976, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The Department of Angels has an Altadena collaborative full-time staff, and their full-time job is to
• role is really to be a partner, to aid in assuring that we are prepared and communicating and collaborating
• And collaborating not only with our fellow water agencies in the region.
• Those warnings come out, collaborating with the fire department to make sure that if a fire does occur
• So I look forward to our continued collaboration. Thanks. Thank you.

Summary: The hearing focused on lessons from the 2017 Tubbs Fire and how Santa Rosa, Sonoma County, and local partners have changed wildfire prevention, recovery, and rebuilding practices since then. Assemblymembers emphasized that the region has become a model for the state, with a shift from suppression to prevention, and panelists described improvements in defensible space, home hardening, vegetation management, alerting, and community coordination. The discussion also highlighted the continuing importance of sharing Sonoma County’s experience with other wildfire-impacted communities across California and beyond. Fire officials and local leaders described specific prevention measures now in place, including Santa Rosa’s vegetation management ordinance, ignition-free/Zone Zero requirements in rebuilding, restrictions on certain mulches, removal of dead and dying trees near roads and defensible space zones, and expanded prescribed burning authority. They also stressed the importance of community organization through block captains, Firewise/COPE-style networks, and the Mark West Area Community Fund. Speakers said these networks helped residents navigate recovery, avoid fraud and bad contractors, coordinate with local agencies, and support neighbors, but they argued that such efforts need more formal structure and stable funding. Water and permitting officials discussed how the fires changed their work. Santa Rosa Water described new regional coordination, generator and backup power upgrades, emergency training, and lessons learned about wildfire-related contamination in water systems, including the need to restore pressure, flush, and test quickly after a fire. Permit Sonoma said rebuilding was balanced by streamlining permits while still requiring safer, more resilient construction, and noted that reduced fees and one-stop permitting helped speed recovery. United Policyholders described helping residents maximize insurance proceeds, organize information, and avoid scams, while warning that insurance availability and affordability remain major barriers and that insurers are increasingly rewarding risk-reduction measures. Across the panels, the main policy requests were for faster and more flexible grant processes, more stable long-term funding for prevention and community programs, stronger support for home hardening and defensible space, better training and tools for local governments and legislative staff, and continued attention to insurance and utility-related resilience. No formal votes or actions were taken in the transcript excerpt; the hearing was informational and ended with a transition toward public comment and further discussion of remaining statewide wildfire policy needs.

Transcript Highlights:

• And you can see how we are collaborating with input from the Higher Education Department and the checks
• So the Office of Cybersecurity really wants to push for tighter collaboration using the partnerships
• Items to GSD; this is something that we would be collaborating with GSD to establish a standardized set
• We are working collaboratively with the Department of Information Technology.
• It has been a very nice collaboration to get research utilizing the bull test.

Transcript Highlights:

• So are these 10 agencies then coordinating and talking about this in collaboration?
• Is there any collaboration between state agencies whatsoever? Do they even know..."
• So are these 10 agencies then coordinating and talking about this in collaboration?
• <01:26:53.320> is talking about this in collaboration is talking about this in collaboration
• :26:54.560> State there any collaboration between State there any collaboration between State

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The committee held its first meeting on February 10, 2025, with member and staff introductions and opening remarks from Chair Kristin Robbins about the committee’s bipartisan mission to address state fraud and improve oversight of executive branch spending. Robbins said the committee would focus on both legislation and informational oversight hearings, likely in coordination with standing policy committees, and emphasized concerns about reported fraud in state government and the need to prevent waste before it occurs. Members from both parties generally expressed support for the committee’s work and interest in learning more about the issues. The sole agenda item was a presentation from the Legislative Auditor on the 2023 report, “Oversight of State-Funded Grants to Nonprofit Organizations.” Legislative Auditor Judy Randall and Deputy Legislative Auditor Jodi Munson Rodriguez explained that the report reviewed how comprehensive Minnesota’s grants management policies are and how well agencies follow them. They said the policies cover the grant lifecycle but often lack detail, and the office found widespread noncompliance in recent years. The presentation included examples such as limited standards for progress reports, flexible monitoring requirements, and no required timeline for closeout reviews. The auditors also noted that state agencies spent an average of about $514 million annually on nonprofit grants from fiscal years 2018 through 2022, with about 2,400 nonprofit organizations receiving grants. The auditors said several factors contribute to compliance problems, including inconsistent funding for grants management, limited training, and uneven use of electronic grants systems. They also noted that statutes gave little authority to enforce compliance. Since the report was released, the Department of Administration has taken some steps, including changes to pre-award financial review policies and a timeline for closeout reviews, but the auditors said other recommendations remain only partially implemented. No votes were taken and no bills were acted on at this meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• We have five collaborative grants, which were awarded to more than one tribe in a partnership model,
• In collaboration with three other tribes, the Pinoleville Pomo Nation is providing support services to
• Moving on to the collaborative efforts: state, local, and federal agencies.
• And so that provides a strong basis for us to collaborate with those cities as well.
• And so we, that provides a strong basis for us to collaborate with those cities as well.

Summary: The hearing focused on the Missing and Murdered Indigenous People (MMIP) grant program under the Board of State and Community Corrections and related Department of Justice efforts. BSCC reported that it now administers 36 MMIP grants across three cohorts, with awards ranging from $436,000 to $1 million, plus five collaborative grants at $2 million each, totaling $35.4 million awarded to federally recognized tribes. Testimony from tribal leaders and grantees described how the funding supports prevention, family advocacy, domestic violence services, law enforcement coordination, youth programming, culturally grounded healing, and new tribal public safety positions such as investigators, social workers, and drone operators. Speakers repeatedly emphasized that the crisis is longstanding, tied to generational trauma, and that the grant has helped build trust and infrastructure in tribal communities. Several witnesses and committee members urged continued and preferably ongoing funding, noting that demand now exceeds available one-time money. BSCC and tribal representatives described outreach efforts that increased participation from four applicants in cohort one to 20 in cohort two and more applicants than funding in cohort three. Tribes also raised implementation concerns, especially the burden of quarterly narrative reporting, limited staff capacity, and the need for flexible administration. BSCC said it uses steering committees, separate small- and large-project categories, orientations, monitoring visits, and technical assistance to support grantees. Tribal leaders and advocates stressed that the program should remain accessible without requiring a waiver of tribal sovereignty. The second major topic was DOJ’s update on AB 3099, the Tribal Assistance Program, and the tribal police pilot under AB 134. DOJ officials said the Office of Native American Affairs and the Division of Law Enforcement have been conducting outreach, trainings, listening sessions, and coordination with tribal, local, state, and federal partners to address Public Law 280 jurisdictional issues, improve reporting and data, and support Feather Alert and MMIP-related resources. DOJ said the AB 3099 report is in internal review and that the tribal police pilot is moving forward with the Yurok Tribe as a participant, with a July 1, 2026 start date. DOJ and tribal witnesses said the pilot’s main barriers are cost and, for some tribes, the waiver of sovereign immunity. No votes were taken, and the hearing ended with broad support for expanding and sustaining MMIP-related funding and infrastructure.

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill intentionally asks these four agencies to collaborate together and to look at how we can remove
• This bill intentionally asks these four agencies to collaborate together and to look at how we can remove
• ,<00:17:50.480> and communication, collaboration, and communication, collaboration, and problem
• Uh, it's a I'm excited to be able to continue to work on this and I'm excited to see the collaboration
• I just want you collaboration happening.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• This is a collaboration of the the whole board the statement I'm going to provide here.
• Lastly, our focus is collaboration.
• Solving any safe excavation issues through communication. collaboration relationships at the local and
• We provide free safety meetings and review of regulations, and ultimately collaborate, support, and enhance
• Across the country, USIC has collaborated with state lawmakers, regulators, utility partners. excavators

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• UC San Diego proposes a two-plus-two transfer program in collaboration with Southwestern College in Chula
• We will collaborate with Southwestern to identify students who complete the CalGETC and transfer major
• We engage in regional activities like the K-16 Educational Collaborative Grants Program, which expands
• And so we're here to support that kind of collaborative work.
• And this CalBridge program, which is an amazing collaboration between faculty at UC, faculty at the CSU

Summary: The Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Education Finance held an extended hearing focused primarily on University of California budget issues, enrollment, housing, and Title IX. Chair David Alvarez opened by noting the governor’s proposed 8% ongoing General Fund reduction to UC, the deferral of compact funding, and the College of the Law budget item, while emphasizing that no votes would be taken that day. Public commenters, including UC Davis employees and lecturers, urged restoration of UC funding and opposed the hiring freeze, saying cuts would worsen staffing shortages, reduce research capacity, and harm students and patients. On UC core operations, the Department of Finance said the governor’s budget maintains the compact but defers $240.8 million in ongoing support and continues a planned 7.95% reduction, while the LAO recommended rejecting the deferrals and instead making any changes in the budget year. UC San Diego’s chancellor and UC Office of the President argued the cuts and deferrals would create major campus shortfalls, force hiring freezes, larger class sizes, fewer course offerings, delayed projects, and possible layoffs. Committee members questioned whether cuts could be shifted away from students and toward administration, discussed UCOP reserves and bond debt, and noted that UC’s budget structure makes the campus-level impact larger than the headline reduction. The committee also reviewed enrollment trends and nonresident replacement. The LAO said UC resident enrollment has grown and recommended revisiting 2026-27 targets and pausing the nonresident replacement plan if state funding does not improve. UC said it has exceeded California undergraduate enrollment and nonresident replacement goals, but warned that continued growth without funding would force enrollment reductions and harm quality. Members discussed the role of nonresident and international students, tuition rates, and the value of UC as a pathway for California students and a source of talent for the state. A separate housing item covered the state’s Higher Education Student Housing Grant Program. UC reported that recent bond savings could support additional affordable beds at UC Davis and UC Santa Barbara, but the LAO and Finance noted the Legislature would need to decide how to use the $6.2 million in savings from the original projects. The committee also heard a Title IX update from UC’s systemwide civil rights office, which described campus Title IX structures, training, and policy enforcement, and said the system has been working to improve confidentiality guidance and streamline complaint processes after survey feedback showed confusion and lengthy procedures.

Transcript Highlights:

• This is a collaborative process.
• <00:11:13.680> this<00:11:13.800> is<00:11:13.920> a<00:11:14.120> collaborative
• legislation we this is a collaborative legislation we this is a collaborative process<00:11:15.760
• this instance, because of the matter of prior concurrence, again, the practice of also working collaboratively
• I appreciate your collaboration and courage when it comes to trying to simply do the right thing and

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The Committee on Public Safety met on Wednesday, April 2 at 11:05 a.m. and began with housekeeping instructions for Zoom testimony and meeting conduct. The first major item was House Resolution 43, HD1, which urged the City and County of Honolulu to work with stakeholders on an emergency access road on the West Coast. The acting chair proposed a substantial HD2 amendment to add Makakilo language, expanding the resolution to call for two emergency access roads—one on the Ewa coast and one in Makakilo—and to request community meetings and a timeline for an alternative Makakilo access road by early 2026. Testimony on the resolution was strongly supportive overall, with 14 written testimonies in favor and none opposed. The committee then debated whether the proposed HD2 was appropriate without prior concurrence from the original introducer or prior committee chair. Several members objected to the amendment process and said they would vote no because the amendment had not been posted in advance and lacked concurrence, while the acting chair argued the rules did not require concurrence for resolutions and that the amendment was needed to address Makakilo residents’ safety concerns. The discussion also included references to prior conversations with leadership and the Speaker about whether resolution titles could be amended. After debate, the committee first voted on the amended version of HR 43, but the recommendation was not adopted. The acting chair then moved to pass HR 43 HD1 as originally presented, without the new Makakilo amendments. That motion was adopted, with the committee voting to pass the resolution as is. The record notes that members supporting the original measure cited the written testimony and the need for a second access point on the West Coast, while others voted no because they viewed the Makakilo language as duplicative or preferred a separate measure. After HR 43, the committee moved on to HCR 9, and the acting chair indicated that the committee would need to take a reconsideration vote before proceeding to a final vote on that resolution.

Transcript Highlights:

• It was a Manoa West Oahu Nursing Collaboration phase three. Correct. So that's in the budget. Okay.
• It was a Manoa West Oahu Nursing Collaboration phase three. Correct. So that's in the budget. Okay.
• ><00:11:01.360> Nursing a Monoa Manoa West Oahu Nursing a Monoa Manoa West Oahu Nursing Collaboration
• <00:11:03.839> So Collaboration phase three. Correct. So Collaboration phase three.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It is imperative that we have an OSE and deputy secretary committed to collaboration with DVR.
• It is imperative that we have an OSE and deputy secretary committed to collaborating with DVR.
• We do this in collaboration with the district.
• We do this in collaboration with the district.
• So it's a consultation and collaboration.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• THEY ARE TYPICALLY VERY COLLABORATIVE IN NATURE AND INCLUDE DISTRICTWIDE FASCIA LEARNING LITERACY COACHES
• TIME IN RAISE INTENSIVE SCHOOLS PROVIDING SUPPORT AND INCLUDE SITE-BASED PROFESSIONAL LEARNING, COLLABORATIVE
• THE SRLD COLLABORATED WITH SPECIALIST TO PROVIDE FEEDBACK AND COACHING OPPORTUNITIES FOR K2 TEACHERS
• THE SRLD COLLABORATED WITH THE LITERACY COACH TO DESIGN MONTHLY GRADE LEVEL FASCIA LEARNING COMMUNITIES
• THE SRLD COLLABORATED WITH THIRD-GRADE TEACHERS MONTHLY TO TRIANGULATE DATA TO PROVIDE EXPLICIT LESSON

Transcript Highlights:

• The first recommendation was to continue collaboration between the Health Care Authority and DSHS to
• Additional analyses of forecasted climate information, as well as broader collaboration, could both help
• Information as well as broader collaboration could both help with those efforts.
• And several states have taken steps to improve collaboration and consultation related to new facilities
• We found, too, that the state has opportunities to broaden collaboration around new energy infrastructure

Summary: The Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee I-900 Subcommittee heard JLARC’s annual update on the status of legislative implementation of State Auditor recommendations, followed by two State Auditor performance audits. JLARC staff reported that for the 2024 review period there were three new legislative recommendations and three unresolved older recommendations. They said the legislature did not convene a work group on civil asset forfeiture, and no formal action was taken on two water-use-efficiency recommendations. Two recommendations related to concurrent Medicaid enrollments were addressed in a bill introduced this session, but that bill was not adopted. The first audit examined how Washington can ensure climate-resilient electricity infrastructure. The State Auditor found the state has opportunities to better adapt new energy infrastructure by using more site-specific climate information, broader collaboration, and vulnerability assessments. The report recommended expanding climate analyses through the University of Washington Climate Impacts Group if funding is available, using forecasted information in DNR wildfire maps, designating a non-regulatory office to coordinate siting and conflict resolution, and expanding vulnerability assessments in Ecology and Commerce processes. Agency witnesses generally agreed resilience is important but emphasized existing efforts, the need to avoid duplicative requirements, the importance of affordability and efficiency, and the role of current forums such as the Clean Energy Siting Council and SEPA processes. The second audit reviewed fines for human trafficking and related sexual exploitation crimes. Auditors found courts assessed fines inconsistently, collection rates varied, some revenues were sent to the wrong local government, and some jurisdictions did not use the money as required for enforcement, prevention, or survivor services. The audit recommended courts work with prosecutors to improve awareness of mandatory fines, and that King and Pierce County improve coding, templates, and tracking so revenues are routed and used correctly. King County testified that it appreciated the audit and described its existing prevention and survivor-support work. The committee took no votes or formal actions and adjourned after the presentations and testimony.

Transcript Highlights:

• This is a collaborative alliance between Lake County Schools, Lake Technical College, and Lake Sumter
• The collaboration between Lake Tech and the city of Tavares resulted in a state-of-the-art training hub
• The Transportation Hub serves as a model for how education and local government can collaborate to address
• So we hope to continue to collaborate with you guys.
• We collaborate with them to maximize efficient use of limited resources.

Summary: The Careers and Workforce Subcommittee heard a panel discussion focused on how Florida schools and colleges are exposing students to in-demand careers in manufacturing, semiconductors, transportation, and related fields, and how they are building pathways from middle school through postsecondary training. Panelists from Seminole County Public Schools, Lake Technical College/Lake County Schools, and St. Petersburg College described their career academies, dual enrollment options, industry certifications, and partnerships with employers, local governments, and state colleges. They emphasized early career awareness, counseling, and parent outreach as key to helping students understand technical education as a viable and prestigious path. Seminole County highlighted 51 career and professional education academies and new offerings in agricultural biotechnology, global finance, firefighting, and planned aerospace engineering. Lake County described Lake Technical College’s programs, strong completion and placement outcomes, and three partnerships: a flexible-day high school/workforce model at Lincoln Park Education Center, the Lake Works pathway collaboration with Lake Sumter State College, and a Transportation Innovation Hub with the City of Tavares that trains students on municipal vehicles and serves multiple local governments. St. Petersburg College discussed its manufacturing and engineering technology programs, including semiconductor processing, mechatronics, soldering, and clean-room training, along with new grant-funded expansion at its Midtown campus. Members asked about wages, the semiconductor workforce, how to change perceptions of technical education, how parents are engaged, and how Bright Futures CAPE and Gold Seal scholarships are communicated. Witnesses said school counselors, CTE teachers, parent nights, and district communications are used to promote these options, and that many students can earn strong wages through short-term certifications or two-year degrees. Lake Technical College also raised concerns about workforce funding not keeping pace with teacher pay increases and inflation, noting that funding covers only about 80% of what it earns and tuition has remained unchanged for 18 years. The meeting ended with members praising the programs, and the subcommittee adjourned without any vote or formal action beyond rising and adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• Effective discipline requires collaboration, not rigid mandates written in statute.
• and I'm having issues with a student, I work with my cohort to try to improve, and sometimes we collaborate
• And oftentimes what this is..." "...we collaborate, sometimes they help with the student, and oftentimes
• So this is really concerning because it is, in fact, undermining the collaborative relationships amongst
• ASU has also hosted similar delegations with ties to hacking organizations and universities that collaborate

Bills: SB1074, SB1327, SB1475, SB1582, SB1583, SB1598

Keywords: student discipline, classroom management, temporary removal, administrative action, education policy, foreign relations, university governance, research security, international agreements, Arizona Board of Regents, interscholastic activities, student eligibility, criminal offenses, school district, youth sports, academic participation, conduct, planned communities, homeowners association, HOA

Summary: The Senate Education Committee heard a presentation from Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne focused on school safety, academic improvement, career and technical education, ESA oversight, and teacher pay. Horne argued that students cannot learn without safe schools and urged more funding for school police officers, citing threats and violent incidents. He also highlighted Project Momentum, tutoring, attendance, classroom phone restrictions, the Student Industry Partnership, expanded ESA participation, and his call to use Proposition 123 land trust funds for direct teacher raises. In response to a question, he said the department is using AI tools, residency checks, and investigators to reduce ESA fraud and abuse. The committee then considered SB 1074, which would require written certification from a principal or administrator before a student removed for discipline could return to class. Horne and the sponsor said the bill would support teachers and hold administrators accountable, while opponents from the Arizona Education Association argued it was redundant, could undermine administrator judgment and FERPA-protected information, and would not address the root causes of classroom disruption. The bill passed 4-3. The committee also heard SB 1327, as amended by a strike-everything amendment requiring Arizona public universities to adopt and report on research security policies to protect against foreign adversary threats and preserve federal funding eligibility. Support came from the sponsor, State Armor, and the Arizona Board of Regents, and the amended bill passed 5-2. Members next approved SB 1475, which bars students convicted of, or admitting to, certain serious offenses from participating in school-sponsored interscholastic activities, with some discussion about rehabilitation, school discretion, and whether a readmittance process should exist. Supporters said the measure was needed for accountability and uniformity after a particularly egregious case; opponents warned it could remove an important rehabilitative outlet. The bill passed 4-3. The committee then advanced SB 1582 and SB 1583, both related to school safety interoperability funding and technical corrections; SB 1582 passed 4-2, and SB 1583, as amended, passed 4-2. Finally, SB 1598, which appropriates $500,000 for school and community gardens, passed unanimously 5-0 after testimony that gardens serve as hands-on learning spaces and supportive environments for students.